Warriors Preview: Ranking the Clippers and other Western contenders

The Western Convention hasn’t modified a lot because the golden state warriors they made their method by it, and received 2022 NBA Finals. On paper, it appears to be like virtually the identical.

There are some adjustments, for certain. the utah jazz sending three-time Defensive Participant of the Yr Rudy Gobert to the minnesota timber wolves turns the latter right into a star-studded power (although nonetheless a great distance off for my part), and pushes the previous towards a rebuild. The commerce of Jerami Grant to Portland Path Blazers – and the large contacts doled out to maintain Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkić – level to the PNW nonetheless attempting to compete.

Kevin Durant’s commerce request briefly rocked the prospect of the phoenix suns — his most popular vacation spot — however now all is calm on that entrance. And talking of calm, the whole lot is clean within the Los Angeles Lakers brow after Kyrie Irving opted for his Brooklyn networks deal, although talks are nonetheless rising a couple of doable Irving-for-Russell Westbrook commerce.

With the mud settled (for now, no less than), it is time to take inventory of the Dubs’ competitors out west.

There’s all the time the potential of a staff making a leap: a wholesome new orleans pelicans The staff can be scary, the Wolves might make issues match brilliantly, and so forth., however as issues stand now, I see six groups that would beat a wholesome Warriors within the West.

It won’t. Nevertheless it might. The Dubs are, for my part, the Western Convention favorites getting into the season, and I solely see one different staff with a official declare to being the favorites.

However right here, ranked so as, are the six groups I feel might problem the Dubs for his or her crown.

Why they will problem the Warriors: It has been so lengthy since we have seen the Clippers wholesome, it is simple to neglect some issues. Specifically, the celebrity that’s Kawhi Leonard and the brilliance of Los Angeles when each he and Paul George are wholesome.

The Clippers have a powerful declare to the title of greatest duo within the NBA and regardless of the ‘Pandemic P’ weaknesses, each gamers are playoff examined, notably Leonard. They have been revamped with John Wall, who might need much more gasoline within the tank than we expect, they usually have an incredible core of function gamers, in addition to the most effective coaches within the league.

It seems that paying for good gamers helps: The 2022-23 Clippers have the third-highest payroll in NBA historical past … behind solely final 12 months’s Warriors and this 12 months’s Warriors.

Why they could have a tough time: Leonard is vulnerable to damage. George is damage susceptible. Past that, Wall is injury-prone, and a few of his function gamers are older. The Clippers have an opportunity to utterly rip by the league within the playoffs, however they missed the playoffs final 12 months, and there is nonetheless room for that to occur.

Why they will problem the Warriors: The Dubs’ first-round sequence with the Nuggets might need been their best sequence within the playoffs, but it surely nonetheless wasn’t straightforward. And that was a Nuggets staff that misplaced its second- and third-best gamers.

Sure, and it is a massive ‘if’, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are wholesome, the Nuggets are a stacked staff. They’re going to even be deceptively good defensively … the Nuggets had a surprisingly good protection in 2021-22, but it surely fell aside within the playoffs as a result of Nikola Jokić needed to carry such an enormous load that he struggled on the different finish of the ground. .

Why they could have a tough time: Trusting two gamers who performed a mixed 9 video games final 12 months is not precisely a foolproof plan.

Why they will problem the Warriors: Golden State noticed firsthand how harmful this Grizzlies staff will be. And with almost all of their key gamers at an age the place they need to be stepping up subsequent 12 months, plus a wholesome dose of playoff expertise now, the Grizz are going to be scary.

This will likely appear to be too excessive a rating for Memphis, however they play the Dubs very onerous.

Why they could have a tough time: The Grizz are nonetheless younger. Ja Morant remains to be attempting to determine how one can play protection and how one can make groups pay once they hearth him and pack up the paint. They’ve had some damage issues. Dropping Kyle Anderson hurts.

4. Phoenix Suns

Why they will problem the Warriors: Phoenix was the perfect regular-season staff within the NBA by a large margin final 12 months. Three of their high 4 gamers (Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges) proceed to enhance. His fourth (Chris Paul) continues to defy Father Time.

I do not assume his playoff struggles level to something aside from getting damage on the flawed time.

Why they could have a tough time: They get injured on the flawed time! Do you actually count on Paul to be wholesome in Could and June? And if not, do you actually count on the Suns to compete with the Warriors? Paul is a little bit of a snakebite in that regard. He managed to remain wholesome this 12 months, however Booker could not.

Why they will problem the Warriors: Even when Golden State edged them out within the Western Convention Finals, the Mavs have been a scary staff. Primarily for one motive: Luka Dončić. Luka retains getting higher, and he is clearly the form of star who will be the perfect participant on a champion staff. He might get essentially the most out of Christian Wooden, and a wholesome Tim Hardaway Jr. can be a giant assist.

Why they could have a tough time: We simply noticed the Warriors dispatch them comparatively simply, after which Dallas’ greatest transfer this offseason was dropping their second-best participant, Jalen Brunson. They want quite a bit to return out on high not solely to recover from that loss, however to develop into a greater staff.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

Why they will problem the Warriors: Is that this giving the Lakers an excessive amount of credit score? Completely. Are they extra prone to miss the playoffs once more than win the West? Positively.

However the Lakers are nonetheless simply two years away from being champions they usually have the identical star duo. I nonetheless do not feel comfy betting towards LeBron James within the playoffs, and if, once more, a giant ‘if’, he and Anthony Davis are wholesome, it is a scary staff, regardless of its obvious weaknesses and ridiculous dysfunction. And there is a very non-zero likelihood that Irving someway finally ends up on his squad, impressed and able to go.

Do I count on the Lakers to beat the Dubs? Completely heck no. But when I squint, can I see a method that would occur? Sure.

Why they could have a tough time: LOL, you do not want me to reply this.